Former Arkansas inmate suing attorney generalLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A former Arkansas inmate whose drug-dealing convictions were tossed out because investigators withheld evidence that his attorneys said would have helped his case has filed a federal lawsuit against investigators, prosecutors and the state's attorney general. Gyronne Buckley spent more than 11 years in prison before his convictions were expunged. The state Claims Commission had unanimously awarded Buckley $460,000 in D...

Prosecutors want ex-developer to pay $16M to banksFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - The U.S. attorney's office is recommending that a former northwest Arkansas developer pay more than $16 million in restitution as part of his sentence. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1qqcq4w ) reports 38-year-old Brandon Barber was sentenced in October to more than 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud and money laundering. Federal prosecutors had accused Barber of conceal...

Man, 29, surrenders in weekend apartment slaying in VegasLAS VEGAS (AP) - Police say a 29-year-old man surrendered for arrest at the Clark County jail, a day after he was identified as the suspect in a fatal weekend shooting in northwest Las Vegas. Records showed that Kolby R. Edwards was arrested Sunday and was being held Tuesday without bail pending an initial court appearance. Police had identified Edwards as the suspect in the early Saturday slaying of 25-year-old Cordan Jamal Swift at an apartm...

Arkansas gains manufacturing jobs after declines A manufacturers' directory reports that industrial employment in Arkansas rose slightly over the past year following years of declines. The 2015 Arkansas Manufacturers Register says that manufacturers in the state added 645 industrial jobs from September 2013 to September 2014, or a third of one percent. The register is a manufacturers' database and directory published by Manufacturers' News, Inc., of Evanston, Illinois. Tom Dubin, president o...

Chamber head expects challenges over amendment The head of the state's largest business lobbying group says he expects court challenges aimed at clarifying questions surrounding a new constitutional amendment that imposes new ethics restrictions on lawmakers and loosens term limits. Speaking at a panel discussion on the new amendment Monday, Arkansas state Chamber of Commerce President Randy Zook said lobbyists are seeking clarification about rules regarding gifts and entertainment. The ne...

Arkansas AG: Woman pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud Arkansas' attorney general says a Crittenden County woman has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says 34-year-old Elaina Brewer of Marion pleaded guilty Monday to a felony count of Medicaid fraud. A Pulaski County judge sentenced Brewer to two years of probation and ordered her to pay a $5,530 fine and $1,843 in restitution. She also must undergo random drug tests. Brewer was arrested in October 2013 after inves...

University of Arkansas to confer honorary degrees Gov. Mike Beebe, former Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke and University of Oxford Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton will receive honorary degrees from the University of Arkansas. Each will receive the honorary degrees and speak to graduating students as part of UA's fall commencement on Dec. 20. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Barnhill Arena. UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart said the three have "made extraordinary contributions" in their ...

Monticello church influences deadly curve upgrades Following a church's request that something be done about a deadly stretch of highway in southeastern Arkansas, state officials have announced a series of improvements on U.S. 278. The First United Methodist Church in Monticello sent a letter to Arkansas highway officials after the August death of 21-year-old Carly Avery on the S-shaped part of the highway known as "Dead Man's Curve." Authorities said she lost control of her vehicle in the cur...

Police: Little Rock man found dead at home Little Rock police say officers have found a man's body while responding to a house alarm. Police say they found his body in a Little Rock carport on Sunday afternoon. He had a gunshot wound to the head. The victim's identity hasn't been released. Police are investigating.

Arkansas lawmakers to discuss new ethics rules State lawmakers and others are scheduled to discuss a state constitutional amendment that prohibits most lobbyist gifts to elected officials and bars corporate campaign contributions and addresses term limits. Amendment 3 was approved by voters in November. State Sen. Jon Woods, Rep. Warwick Sabin, attorney Scott Trotter and Randy Zook of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce are set to discuss the issue Monday. The meeting will be at the Cli...

Police: Arkansas man arrested after bank break-in An Arkansas man has been arrested on a burglary charge after witnesses say he broke into a bank and took a stack of papers. The 26-year-old suspect was being held at the Washington County jail Monday morning and faces a commercial burglary charge. KHOG-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1wR11wY ) police arrested the man Sunday after he exited the Springdale bank through a broken window. He was treated at an area hospital after cutting his hand on the g...

3 Arkansas projects chosen for local foods program Local food programs in three Arkansas cities have been chosen to receive technical assistance in helping make the programs economically viable. The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in North Little Rock, the Flippin School District and Debra Felske in Osceola have been chosen by the White House Rural Council for the Local Foods, Local Places initiative. The Arkansas programs are among 26 nationwide that will receive help in turning their food s...

Man settles in Australia after Paragould slaying On Wednesday, December 29, 1909, a violent winter storm was ripping across Paragould. After a day of hunting, brothers John Monroe and James Henry Trammell, both of Greenway in Clay County, ducked into the Elk Café on Paragould's North Pruett Street. Advertised as the, "most up-to-date restaurant in northeast Arkansas," the Elk Café served regular and short-order meals, cigars, liquor and even ice cream. When the brothers entered the café, Jam...

Chamber head expects challenges over amendment The head of Arkansas' largest business lobbying group said he expects court challenges to try and clarify key parts of a voter-approved constitutional amendment that imposes new ethics restrictions on lawmakers and loosens term limits. Speaking at a panel discussion on the impact of the amendment, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce President Randy Zook said lobbyists want some clarification on the new rules they and lawmakers will be operating under...

Airman's Medal awarded posthumously to Arkansan LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE (AP) — The Airman's Medal has been awarded posthumously to an Arkansas Air National Guardsman who died while protecting his daughter during a tornado. The medal was presented Saturday at Little Rock Air Force Base to the wife and father of Master Sgt. Daniel Wasson. A street named for Wassom was also dedicated. Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Stanley Clark III presented the medal to Wassom's wife Pam and father Dan Wasso...

Ex-Harrison housing director's records subpoenaed HARRISON (AP) — Harrison police have taken records of the city's former housing authority director. The Harrison Daily Times reported current Housing Authority Director Chonda Tapley told the authority's board that police served a search warrant at the agency's office on Thursday for records of former director Derek White. Police Chief Paul Woodruff said the warrant is part of an investigation into a reported theft from the agency. Both Woodru...

Report says Arkansas lottery hampered by mistrust LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' lottery offers too many games, pays more to its vendors than comparable states and suffers from mistrust from the public dating back to its launch five years ago, a consultant hired to review the games told lawmakers on Friday. Camelot Global Services, the firm legislators hired to review the lottery and recommend ways to boost its lagging sales, said the lottery can make changes that would increase its annual sale...

Beebe formally announces intent to pardon son LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe took the first official step Friday toward pardoning his son for a felony marijuana conviction 11 years ago, a move he's defended as no different from the second chance he has given other offenders. The two-term Democratic governor formally announced his intent to pardon his 34-year-old son Kyle, who was convicted in 2003 of marijuana possession with intent to deliver. The move kicks off a 3...

Farm Bureau re-elects Veach as president HOT SPRINGS (AP) — Arkansas Farm Bureau members have re-elected Randy Veach as president and Rich Hillman as vice president. Members also re-elected five board members and selected two new board members on Friday, the final day of the organization's annual convention in Hot Springs. Veach is a cotton, soybean, rice, wheat, corn and milo farmer near Manila and will begin a seventh term as president of the state Farm Bureau. Hillman is from Carl...

Arkansas to get $60,000 in Sirius XM settlement LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas will receive $60,178 from Sirius XM Radio Inc. in a national settlement to resolve complaints about misleading advertising and billing practices. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says Arkansas customers who haven't filed a complaint have 150 days to file one to be considered for restitution. Sirius XM agreed to pay a total of $3.8 million to 45 states and the District of Columbia. The restitution to consumers covers...